The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-07-08

only other or previous establishment Of
Cryptic Masonry In Grafton County or In
fact In Northern New Hampshire Is very
scant
Grand Master John A. Harris In his in
teresting annual address of 1875, devoted
largely to the early history of this branch
of Free Masonry In New Hampshire and
published In the proceedings of the Grand
Council for that year says april 14th):
"No records of Washington Council Of
Royal and Select Masters can be found II
Is impossible to ascertain the date of its
formation. From the fact that Companion
James +. Dana, an officer of 1922 of Wash
ington Council, assisted in the organization
of Columbian Council on the fifteenth day
of April, 1922, we must infer that WASH
ington Council preceded Columbian"
For the officers in 1922 1898. 1924 and
1925, the N. II. Registers of those years
may be consulted.
From the same address april 49, it APP
pears that Chas. Abbott of Bath was Grand
Captain of the Guard in the Grand Council
of New Hampshire
1t is presumed that others connected with
the old chapter at Bath received these de-
grees.
Jeremy l.. Cross was great apostle of
this rite and established in various parts of
the country thirty-three Councils of Select
Masters, including one in New Hampshire
and nine in Vermont. One of them, Brad
ford Council, established Aug. IA, 1917: was
located at Bradford, vt. 1t is not unlikely
that many companions in the valley of Con-
necticut received these degrees through the
general disposition that prevailed at that pc
Rod to obtain all the accessible advantages of
Masonry. Cross had a very wide acquaint-
ance as a Masonic lecturer and of course
exerted his influence to promote the Cryptic
Rite. If we may take the rate given in the
bylaws of Orphan Council, the fees for
both degrees were bul three dollars and the
barriers were not formidable.
However generally the companions may
have espOused this rite, it probably cannot
be known at this late day whether any of
the bretheren of LittletOn or Plymouth
were it's patrons Time seems to have made
an almost complete ObliteratiOn of the rec
ords and traditions of the local Councils. to
which our Masonic predecessors would
have naturally resorted
The neighboring Councils in Vermont,
hat are contemporary with Omega Coun-
Gil, are Bradford, No. II, at Bradford, VT,
md Caledonia, No. 1S, at st. JOhnsbury. |
Both of these organizations contributed to |
he original membership of Omega Coun-
Ill. The jurisdictional lines were not then
10 closely drawn as they have been in very
ecent years.
AS tables showing the membership and
'fficers of the Council during the time of its
OjOurn at LittletOn have been prepared,
hese facts will not be detailed in the body
# this narrative.
All who have received the degrees of the
Council, with genuine education in the
principles of Free Masonry and in sympa-
by with it's purposes, are impressed with
he Importance of the Cryptic Rite. 1t is
or such as entertain this conviction to labor
or the establishment of the Council upon
S secure foundation in the general system
s that held by the Chapters. How TO ac-
omplish this result is at this times ptbst
erious problem that cOnfrOnts this friends
Cryptic Masonry. Many of thel&A believe
ne vitality of the degrees will ba,aAitperiled
they are not made prerequisites % the or
ers of the Temple. Others hold that this
ranch will flourish upon its own merits
lOugh it be not accorded coequal position
nth the Chapter as preliminary TO an en-
'ance to the COmmandery.
In the light of the past and with faith in
le future, it becomes all loyal COmpan-
ms of the Cryptic Rite to consider wisely
nd act with determination for the good of
lis part of the general system of Free Ma
,nry whenever the interests of the whole I
ay be clearly ascertained: in reference to
e claims of the councils.
Nothing in Free Masonry that is sound
principle and beneficial in practice has
lied under the tests of the centuries The ]
tal elements have withstood the perfidity I
false friends and the antagonism of.open {
unity. The Cryptic Rite may await with
the verdict of the future,